Begin with the authoritative source closest to the question: current legislation for a statutory rule, the deciding court for a judgment, and an official court or government site for procedure. Discovery databases are useful, but currency, jurisdiction and subsequent treatment still require verification.
Core sources
CanLII
Search Canadian court decisions and legislation across federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions. Confirm document currency and note coverage limitations.
Justice Laws Website
Consult consolidated federal Acts and regulations published by the Government of Canada, including the amendment and currency information.
Supreme Court of Canada
Access judgments, case information, hearing schedules and court notices from the Court’s official website.
Provincial and territorial sources
Use the relevant legislature, e-Laws or court website for current procedural rules, forms, notices and jurisdiction-specific legislation.
Verification workflow
Before relying on a result
- 01State the jurisdiction, date range and legal issue before searching.
- 02Locate the primary statute, regulation, judgment or court notice.
- 03Check currency, amendments, appeals and subsequent treatment.
- 04Record the source URL, access date and pinpoint reference.
- 05Have a qualified lawyer evaluate how the authority applies.
This reference is for research orientation and content governance. It is not legal advice and does not replace professional analysis, a citator or the applicable official source.
Turn source quality into visible trust
Link important legal claims to primary sources, identify the lawyer responsible for substantive review and show the latest review date. When law or procedure changes, update the page, add a correction note where needed, or retire it with an appropriate redirect.
Reviewed by SEO for Lawyers Canada Editorial Team · Updated September 4, 2026